Force converting device

ABSTRACT

A device for converting force includes an air pump which pumps air of a wheel separated into chambers by radial vanes and mounted in a body of water. Air is pumped successively into the spaces in a lower quadrant of the wheel to render the same bouyant, and the water and then the air escape therefrom as this quadrant turns upwardly, at the same time exerting a thrust in the direction of rotation. Flaps are provided to permit the rapid inflow of water when the chambers are in the upper quadrants.

United States Patent 1191 Dell [ FORCE CONVERTING DEVICE [76] Inventor:Billy Clyde Dell, 1411 Azalea St.,

Waycross, Ga. 31501 [22] Filed: Apr. 19, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 352,727

[52] US. Cl 415/7, 60/496 [51] Int. Cl F03b 17/02 [58] Field of Search415/7; 417/61, 337, 331; 60/496 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 211,143 1/1879 Fogarty 415/7 3,360,926 I/1968 Parr 415/7 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 9,802 5/1899 Great Britain 60/496 Jan. 14, 1975Primary Examiner-C. J. Husar Assistant Examiner-L. J. Casaregola [57]ABSTRACT A device for converting force includes an air pump which pumpsair of a wheel separated into chambers by radial vanes and mounted in abody of water. Air is pumped successively into the spaces in a lowerquadrant of the wheel to render the same bouyant, and the water and thenthe air escape therefrom as this quadrant turns upwardly, at the sametime exerting a thrust in the direction of rotation. Flaps are providedto permit the rapid inflow of water when the chambers are in the upperquadrants.

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 1 43975 SHEET 1 OF 2 HGURE 3'FI6URE 2 FIGURE 4 FIGURE 1 FORCE CONVERTING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a devicehaving a mechanical advantage, that is a device for converting rapidmovement with low power to slower movement with higher power.

2. The Prior Art Many devices have been suggested for getting power froma rapidly running motor to slower rotation with substantially greaterpower. However, none of these is really efficient where the mechanicaladvantage sought is quite large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a wheelformed of two spaced discs is divided into compartments or chambers byradial vanes. A pump is arranged to supply air through a control systemto chambers located in one of the lower quadrants of the wheel. Thebuoyancy in this compartment then produces turning of the wheel. Thewater and then the air are permitted to escape from the compartmentunder pressure as the compartment approaches the upper quadrant of thewheel, and finally flaps are provided which in the uppermost position ofthe wheel allow the water to enter the compartment quickly so that thereis no buoyancy on the downgoing side of the wheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows in side elevation a wheel used in the device according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is across-section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is atop plan view of apart of the wheel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section on an enlarged scale of the central portion ofFIG. 2 on the line 5-5 thereof;

FIG. 6 is a view on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings,there is shown a container 2 for water, although the invention isapplicable in any standing body of water. A shaft 4 mounted in bearing 6supports spaced end discs 8 which are keyed or otherwise secured to theshaft. Between the end discs 8 extend radial vanes 10 running from theshaft to the periphery of the discs, forming segmental chambers 12.Adjacent the outer ends of the vanes 10 are openings 14.

Beginning at the periphery of each of the vanes 10 and extending in acurve are U-shaped plates having portions 16 extending completely acrossthe space between the end discs and extensions 18 which have betweenthem a gap 20. Hinged at 22 on the opposite wall of the chamber from theportions 16 are curved flaps 24 whose width is at least wider than thewidth of the gaps 20 and whose length is such that the free ends overlapunder the parts 16. These are movable then from the position shown insolid lines in FIG. 2 to that shown in broken lines, the latter positionbeing adjustable by set screw 26.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 7, a pump 28 (FIG. 1) pumps air into a pipe30 which enters a passage in a block 32 mounted on the machine frame 34.This passage includes an inlet section 36 and an outwardly radiallyextending portion 38 opening into a peripherally arranged groove 42 inthe inner face of the block 32. The end of the shaft 4 adjacent theblock 32 has a plurality of inwardly extending passages 44 extendingparallel to the shaft axis and ending in the outwardly turned sections46 opening in the periphery of the shaft. The openings 44 are at thesame distance from the shaft axis as the groove 42. Openings 46 lead tooutwardly opening check valves 48 opening into each of the chambers 12.

In operation, the pump is started and pumps air through passages 30, 36,38, 42, 44 and 46 and check valves 48 into the chamber in the lowerright quadrant of FIG. 2. This produces a buoyancy in this compartmentwhich causes it to rise and thus produce rotation of the shaft 4. At thesame time, the water driven from the compartments escapes through holes14 and exerts a thrust in the direction of rotation. As the compartmentrises further, air begins to escape through the openings 14, but is forthe main part trapped by the position of flap 24 against the parts 16,18. As the compartment approaches its uppermost position, the flap willdrop to the broken line position shown in FIG. 2, and the chamber willfill rapidly with water. Thus there is no buoyancy remaining tointerfere with the movement of the downwardly moving side of the wheel.

I claim:

1. A device for converting force comprising a wheel immersed in a liquidmounted to turn about a horizontal axis and having spaced end walls andradially extending partitions between said end walls dividing the sameinto a plurality of chambers, and means to supply gas under pressure tothe chamber in a lower quadrant of the wheel, whereby buoyancy impartsan upward movement to said chamber, causing the wheel to rotate, saidpartitions having openings therein adjacent the periphery of the wheelto permit water and gas under pressure to escape as the partitions intowhich the gas has been pumped turn upwardly, flap means hinged in eachof said compartments on the partition adjacent the periphery of thewheel part at a point closer to the center than said openings, and stopmeans for limiting outward swinging of said flap means whilesubstantially preventing the escape of fluid past such flap means.

1. A device for converting force comprising a wheel immersed in a liquidmounted to turn about a horizontal axis and having spaced end walls andradially extending partitions between said end walls dividing the sameinto a plurality of chambers, and means to supply gas under pressure tothe chamber in a lower quadrant of the wheel, whereby buoyancy impartsan upward movement to said chamber, causing the wheel to rotate, saidpartitions having openings therein adjacent the periphery of the wheelto permit water and gas under pressure to escape as the partitions intowhich the gas has been pumped turn upwardly, flap means hinged in eachof said compartments on the partition adjacent the periphery of thewheel part at a point closer to the center than said openings, and stopmeans for limiting outward swinging of said flap means whilesubstantially preventing the escape of fluid past such flap means.